Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 18, 2006 | National | HR 810 | Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37) |
Dec. 9, 2010 | National | HR 847 | 9/11 Health and Compensation Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
Aug. 2, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
Aug. 2, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
March 24, 2021 | National | PN 121 | Nomination of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48) |
Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
April 12, 2018 | National | PN 1426 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (53 - 45) |
April 12, 2018 | National | PN 1426 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
Feb. 14, 2022 | National | PN 1593 | Nomination of Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 45) |
Feb. 14, 2022 | National | PN 1593 | Nomination of Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 45) |
April 28, 2009 | National | PN 188 | Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (65 - 31) |
Feb. 28, 2019 | National | PN 22 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency | (52 - 47) |
Feb. 27, 2019 | National | PN 22 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
June 22, 1995 | National | PN 245 | Henry W. Foster Jr., Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 43) |
Feb. 10, 2017 | National | PN 33 | Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47) |
Feb. 8, 2017 | National | PN 33 | Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48) |
Feb. 17, 2017 | National | PN 44 | Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46) |
Feb. 16, 2017 | National | PN 44 | Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46) |
Sept. 7, 1993 | National | PN 452 | M. Joycelyn Elders, United States Surgeon General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Feb. 10, 1998 | National | PN 623 | David Satcher, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 35) |
March 15, 2021 | National | PN 78-11 | Nomination of Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 40) |
March 10, 2021 | National | PN 78-16 | Nomination of Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34) |
March 18, 2021 | National | PN 78-2 | Nomination of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 49) |
March 23, 2021 | National | PN 79-11 | Nomination of Vivek Murphy as Medical Director in the Regular Corps and Surgeon General of the General Public Health Service | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (57 - 43) |
Oct. 28, 2003 | National | PN 884 | Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (88 - 8) |
June 27, 2003 | National | S 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
April 15, 1997 | National | S 104 | Nuclear Waste Disposal bill | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
June 29, 2001 | National | S 1052 | Patients' Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 36) |
June 29, 2001 | National | S 1052 | Patients' Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 36) |
Nov. 3, 2015 | National | S 1140 | Federal Water Quality Protection Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | National | S 1200 | Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 10) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
July 15, 1999 | National | S 1344 | Patient Bill of Rights bill | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 47) |
Feb. 11, 1998 | National | S 1601 | Human Cloning Research bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54) |
May 4, 1993 | National | S 171 | Department of the Environment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 15) |
Oct. 21, 2009 | National | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
Dec. 1, 2011 | National | S 1931 | Reduces Payroll Tax Rate | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
Jan. 15, 2009 | National | S 22 | Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 21) |
Sept. 17, 2018 | National | S 2554 | Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2) |
July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
April 11, 2007 | National | S 30 | Stem Cell Research Hope Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
Aug. 1, 2006 | National | S 3711 | Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25) |
April 18, 2024 | National | S 4072 | A bill to prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce certain rules of the Environmental Protection Agency. | Bill Failed - Senate (52 - 46) |
May 11, 2022 | National | S 4132 | Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 | Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 51) |
May 23, 2024 | National | S 4361 | Border Act of 2024 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (43 - 50) |
June 5, 2024 | National | S 4381 | Right to Contraception Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 39) |
June 5, 2024 | National | S 4381 | Right to Contraception Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 39) |
June 13, 2024 | National | S 4445 | A bill to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization. | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 47) |
June 13, 2024 | National | S 4445 | A bill to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization. | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 47) |
July 10, 2024 | National | S 4554 | Reproductive Freedom for Women Act | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 44) |
Oct. 1, 2020 | National | S 4653 | A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
Feb. 12, 2019 | National | S 47 | Natural Resources Management Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
April 11, 2007 | National | S 5 | Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
Nov. 30, 2010 | National | S 510 | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25) |
July 27, 1995 | National | S 641 | Ryan White CARE Reauthorization Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3) |
July 7, 2016 | National | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
July 31, 2002 | National | S 812 | Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21) |
Sept. 24, 1997 | National | S 830 | Prescription Drug bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2) |
June 25, 1997 | National | S 947 | Budget Reconciliation bill | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27) |
June 25, 1997 | National | S 947 | Budget Reconciliation bill | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27) |
June 10, 2013 | National | S 954 | Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 27) |
May 7, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
July 14, 1999 | National | S Amdt 1241 | Women's Health and Cancer Rights Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (55 - 45) |
July 14, 1999 | National | S Amdt 1241 | Women's Health and Cancer Rights Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (55 - 45) |
July 15, 1999 | National | S Amdt 1250 | Patient Lawsuit Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 13 | Repealing the Federal Health Care Law | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 13 | Repealing the Federal Health Care Law | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
Feb. 8, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1390 | Contraceptives Distribution Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59) |
March 1, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1520 | Authorizes Moral and Religious Objections to Certain Health Care Items and Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 48) |
March 8, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1537 | Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42) |
April 2, 1992 | National | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
April 2, 1992 | National | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
Oct. 5, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1937 | Health Care for Veterans Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2107 | Authorizes Import of FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2108 | Prohibits FDA Approval of Genetically Engineered Fish | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 50) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2108 | Prohibits FDA Approval of Genetically Engineered Fish | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 50) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2111 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical Companies from Delaying the Release of Generic Drugs | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 67) |
March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 214 | Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2153 | Prohibits Increase in Interest Rates for Student Loans (Lamar Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 62) |
June 19, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2156 | Increases Funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
March 31, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2168 | Tobacco Immunity Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
June 19, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2172 | Rescinds Bonuses to States for Administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 58) |
Oct. 27, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2259 | AIDS Drug Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 50) |
March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 229 | Medicaid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
June 21, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2310 | Requires Labels on Foods with Genetically Modified Ingredients | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 73) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2348 | Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2356 | Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2357 | Medicare Premiums Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2371 | Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
June 13, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2392 | Reduces Funding for Food Stamps | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 33) |